#anyway follow for more musing on how i believe that while capitalism has DEFINITELY made art worse social media also has

[utilitycaster]

As a frequent "ugh, fanon," person it's not that I don't like non-canonical character designs or interpretations as a concept. I love unique and creative ideas about fictional characters that are informed by canon but diverge from it in interesting ways that build upon the original vision! I almost never see this in fanon.

#this is about a bunch of things but rn i'm thinking about halfling tails...uninteresting repetitive pointless and in conflict with canon #more generally i get that fanworks are derivative by nature and that's the point but there's similar and there's The Same. #like. my beef with fanon is not ultimately one of HOW DARE YOU DEVIATE FROM THE HOLY WRIT #it's that it's often dull and poorly executed by people who are gathering around a single kind of stupid headcanon #there are many great individual headcanons out there but they almost never make it to fanon status #bc fanon is not a garden of many new interesting ideas. it's a single dirty pink flamingo haphazardly stabbed into the lawn. #99% of the time canon was better bc it wasn't passed through a committee that stripped it of anything interesting and made it reproducible #anyway follow for more musing on how i believe that while capitalism has DEFINITELY made art worse social media also has #most of my favorite creators end up being the ones who are either very offline or at least have very hard boundaries #and most of my favorite fan creators are involved in fandom but are also fanon (derogatory) people

[knightdawn]

Weyard: Then and Now

Happy Golden Sunday! 

Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn!

Something I’ve been thinking about often in regards to this series has to do with the geography of Weyard. Namely, how the cities and locations from ALL the games line up with each other, especially the ancient civilizations in Dark Dawn that didn’t make an appearance in previous games and certain locations from the first two games that are suspiciously absent in Dark Dawn.

Well, I finally decided to make an attempt at figuring this out. Here we have the official Dark Dawn map.

And here is a composite image I created from the maps for The Broken Seal and The Lost Age since TLA’s map has labels covering the middle part of Angara and lacked several locations present in the first game.

Here is Dark Dawn’s map with some overlays that will help when talking about how the land shifted - of note are the areas circled in white, which are places in Angara that have evidence of being the same exact location (the Mt. Aleph crater, Kolima Forest, and Champa) and the area circled in yellow is Apollo Sanctum: located on the highest mountain in Angara.

Here, I created the same overlay on the Old Angara.

Here are what the overlay colors represent:

pale cyan: Imil, Bilibin, and other northern regions pale orange: Goma Plateau greyish green: Kalay region, plus Gondowan and Idejima pale green: Kolima Forest pinkish orange: Saha Area/Displaced Marshlands pink and magenta: Morgal region (split up to make the shapes more clear) dark blue: Khiren Mountains blue: Altin region yellow: Lamakan Desert region orange: Harapa region red: Champa region bright green: Mogall Forest

---

The two biggest changes appear to be that the Lamakan Desert region stretched and moved a LOT and Kolima Forest became a peninsula. In Dark Dawn’s time the Goma Range has suddenly formed a gap that wasn’t there before - more evidence of the continent stretching. 

Based on the shape of the coastline and how the mountains fall, it’s highly likely that the entire Mogall Forest area is gone in Dark Dawn’s map, and I also think it’s very likely that Xian and Tonfon are in the same general location and may even be the same city - just rebuilt and renamed when it suddenly became a seaside location or in the subsequent wars that happened in this area.

One theory of mine is that the tidal wave that destroyed Izumo was caused by Mogall Forest sinking, as this would be a logical repercussion of such a large displacement of land and water. It could also be connected to the shifts that caused Indra and Osenia to be on a different “shelf.”

Somehow, until doing wiki reading while researching individual towns, I didn’t remember that the Kolima Forest supposedly “migrated” but I wonder if that’s just how the people of Weyard explain plate tectonics they don’t understand. The earthquakes and such still could’ve injured Tret and Laurel - and the marshlands that were once here could still have been displaced by the shifting. Similarly, the Harapa region and Khiren Mountains are said to have "risen up" but this could also mean the mountains simply grew taller and revealed long-buried ruins in the process.

Anyway, more specifics for individual locations follow!

LOCATIONS FROM THE OLD GAMES:

Vale and Mt. Aleph: destroyed, but the people survived and relocated. Vault: likely destroyed and rebuilt as Carver’s Camp and Lumberyard. Bilibin: a major power in Dark Dawn’s time, possibly suffered less damage than nearby areas if the Goma Range protected it. Kolima: probably suffered earthquakes during the continental shifting on top of the weird fallout that caused people to turn into beastmen. Imil: survived and is doing fine. Xian: possibly destroyed and rebuilt or otherwise absorbed into Tonfon. The name change could also have to do with the power shifts caused by the various wars and conflicts that have happened in this area. It’s also possible that Xian was destroyed or conquered during one of these conflicts even if it survived the Golden Sun event and fallout. Altin: the mines probably collapsed due to all the seismic activity; the presence of a lake in what I believe is the general vicinity of Altin also makes me think it may have flooded again as well (survivors could’ve moved to nearby Kaocho or other towns.) Kalay: survived and is prospering - probably the capitol of the country of Kalay in Dark Dawn’s time. However, the region around it seems to have become more of a desert than it was in the past and there is a new lake where there was previously a mass of land. Tolbi: unknown, probably survived but also likely had a lot of political unrest and turmoil after Babi’s death. Lunpa: suspiciously absent from Dark Dawn; probably destroyed by either the Golden Sun event or fallout from it. The survivors probably moved to other nearby settlements. Suhalla: unknown, but the region it was located appears intact so it’s probably still there. Lalivero: unknown, but there’s a new forest visible in the region between Babi’s Lighthouse and Venus Lighthouse - if these areas survived, the lands around them have changed considerably. (I’d assume the forest’s growth can be attributed to the influx of Venus power from the lighthouse.) Loho: unknown, probably survived or was at least rebuilt. Champa: survived and still a pirate nation as of Dark Dawn’s time. Lemuria: survived but has definitely shifted location - an interesting possibility @unluckyadept​ suggested is that it sank much like Atlantis, which is somewhat supported by NPC dialogue in-game mentioning “an advanced civilization” that sank during the GS event. Either way, other dialogue seems to indicate that the people of Lemuria opened up trade with the outside world after TLA, so their civilization must also still exist. Maybe they’re just underwater now? Izumo: destroyed by a tidal wave, citizens relocated to Yamata. Everyone survived because of Lady Uzume’s foresight ability.

Other settlements from The Lost Age: since they aren’t visited or even mentioned in Dark Dawn, we don’t know much. Gondowan and Idejima can be seen on the map, but there are no visible cities or named areas. The seas and islands seem to have shifted around quite a lot, though. (With Crossbone Isle appearing in an entirely new location for some reason.) I also assume that with psynergy restored, regions near other areas of influence (such as the four elemental rocks) also are receiving more energy than they were prior to the Golden Sun.

I could do a separate meta on beastmen in general but one headcanon I have is that what happened to everyone in the Morgal region is directly related to the transformations that happen to the people of Garoh, whether through genetics or lunar influence or both!

Since the transformations of Garoh’s elders become permanent after they’re exposed to the high levels of psynergy present at Air’s Rock, I have a feeling this is the same thing happened to all the people in this part of Angara. And if this is the case, it’s possible everyone in Garoh became permanently transformed due to the Golden Sun event as well!

LOCATIONS FROM DARK DAWN:

Patcher’s Place & Carver’s Camp: new settlements created by survivors of the Goma Region - Vale, Vault, and possibly Lunpa. Harapa: new settlement, but the ruins it was built on are ancient. Passaj: this is an ancient city, but Isaac’s party never ventured into these mountains farther than Lama Temple. However, these do appear to be in the same general area. Like Ayuthay and Lemuria, they probably didn’t trust outsiders back then. Ayuthay: ancient city that was even more reclusive before the Alchemy Well was activated. I assume that if Isaac or Felix’s parties traveled by it, they didn’t consider the location worth a visit. They probably skipped right by a LOT of seemingly uninhabited ruins. Kaocho: founded by King Wo within the past couple decades. It’s unclear if the settlement existed before the split-off from Sana. The ruins it was built over are definitely older than the city. Te Rya Villiage: the people here are nomadic, their culture could be new or go way, way back. Presumably, the people weren’t in the area during the shifts and changes that happened here either way. The Khiren Mountains are said to have “risen up” which I take as means this whole area is at a much higher altitude than it was previously. Belinsk: Like Harapa, the settlement is new but the ruins it is built over are ancient. My guess here is that the continental shift unearthed the structure the capital of Morgal would be built over. Border Town: I assume it was created when Morgal became it’s own country, but it’s possible the border started being enforced as soon as the people of the Morgal region started turning into beastmen. Port Rago: probably a new settlement, at least in it’s current form. I like the idea that it could’ve been an insignificant fishing village that gained a lot from the trade boom post-TLA but that is just my theory. Saha Town: new settlement. As stated in-game, it sprang up because of the newly-fertile area and the trade centered around the “dream leaves” found here. Harun Villiage: unknown. If it’s not a new settlement, it was probably considered an insignificant location in the past. Yamata City: new settlement inhabited by the people from Izumo. 

---

Please, feel free to use these maps and musings as a reference and springboard for other works. I made them with the hope that having a solid idea of how the geography works would spark some new ideas. 

I'd love to see people take this and make new things with it!

This whole project actually started because I started wondering “what happened to Xian?” because it was one of my favorite locations in the first game, and then also wanting to know “where was Ayuthay during the first two games?” because it’s one of my favorite locations in Dark Dawn.

I have a better idea of both of those things now, myself. I hope this meta proves useful to others, too!

Finally, I'd also love to give a shout-out to this Golden Sun Discord Server! Finding them and learning this event was happening gave me the little push I needed to finish up my meta.

You can also find this essay cross-posted on Ao3!

#golden sun #golden sunday #golden sun dark dawn #golden sun the lost age #weyard #;knight writes #;meta essay

[emma-christine-spoole]

My Muse Does the Vanity Fair Interview

https://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2000/01/proust-questionnaire

Tagging: @normalouisebatesrp @itsnormanbates @leather-lover-massett @xeffie-thredsonx @maggiexesmerelda @tillhumanvxices  @foxbelieve @danascullyeffect @costaricaaguitars @theirlament

and anyone else who wants to. (repost, don’t reblog)

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Wow, we’re jumping right into the deep philosophical questions, huh? I don’t know if it’s possible to have completely flawless, perfect happiness in this life. The world has too many flaws and too many people with high capacity for senseless evil. I think the closest we can get to perfect happiness in this life is having strong bonds with those you love, the kind that will give you the strength to face down that evil when you have to face it.

2. What is your greatest fear?

I try to stay out of political discussions and keep my views to myself most of the time. I’ve just found it’s the smartest thing to do, having spent so many years living in the nation’s capital and considering where I was working. But here’s an exception. My greatest fear currently is that we’re sliding toward a Gilead-like nightmare, slowly like a frog in a pot, so we aren’t going to notice until we’re being boiled alive. Scared that women are going to be stripped of all the progress made over the last half-century, including rights my mother and her mother demonstrated in the streets for. But then I look at my daughter @xeffie-thredsonx and know that’s not going to happen without a hell of a fight from the next generation.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I can have a streak of hypocrisy, unfortunately. I can condemn and punish others for the same perceived wrongdoings I’ve been guilty of myself. I do that by rationalizing, believing my reasons are justified and even noble when theirs aren’t, that I’m bending or even breaking the law to protect those I love or to bring down those who otherwise would’ve gotten away.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Cowardice. It’s so often an underlying root issue of criminal behavior. I deal primarily with criminals who keep other humans as slaves to be sold. They put on such an act they’re such big, tough dangerous guys. But they’re really cowards; it’s obvious once you know how to scratch the psychological surface. Also cowards are the violence-fetishists who hide behind their keyboards and post death-bounties on my head on 4Chan. Pffft. Whatever. That’s been going on for years. Nothing new at all.

5. Which living person do you most admire?

Captain Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Army. She piloted a Black Hawk helicopter with both her legs and part of one arm blown off after it was shot down by a grenade missile in Iraq. Still landed it and the rest of her crew to safety. I met her once when she was campaigning for the Senate, and she’s an amazing person. That’s a true warrior and American hero. People overcome once-fatal childhood diseases every day now. That’s not a warrior. That’s called advances in modern medicine.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?

My white Mustang convertible. I love that car like no other. I bought it when I still living in D.C. and there was no need to drive, but so what? I got it anyway. In Oregon, there’s nothing comparable to driving along the coastal highway with the top down on a rain-free day!

7. What is your current state of mind?

Guess you could say I’m pretty introspective because of these questions. I’m also curious and a little bit apprehensive how this interview is going to be received once it hits the news stands. I know we talked about me being known in some circles as “The Sex Trade’s Most Hated Woman,” but I’d really NOT like that moniker splashed all over the cover, if you possibly have any control over it.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Conformity to “traditions.” I have no patience with people who feel it’s best to be conservative, unremarkable, ordinary, to blend in and to blindly follow the life-script that gets pushed on all of us. To me, that’s consigning yourself to a lifetime of mediocrity and dead dreams.

9. On what occasion do you lie?

I lie when I have to protect my birth family, and that’s not the only thing I’ll do to keep them out of harm’s way. We’re not the typical close-knit family. We even have a dangerous side we show to those we perceive as threats. Spend some time in White Pine Bay, and you’ll soon hear all sorts of whispered rumors about us. And whispered warnings to stay off our bad side. Some of those people even act like we’re the Mafia or something! We might not have quite that much pull, but any of us will lie, defend ourselves, and more, when it comes to protecting our own.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Nothing, to be honest. I’ve always thought I look pretty damn good. If I had to pick one thing, I might’ve liked to share my sister’s bigger breasts. But trust me: they look best on her.

11. Which living person do you most despise?

It’s almost a tie between Ellen Sanders and Alex Romero. The former: Nearly assassinating the President while taking away another woman’s husband is one thing, BUT the latter: taking emotional and sexual advantage of my sister and trying to have my nephew locked up in an institution for no valid reason: NOW it gets personal.  

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?

Knows how to treat a lady. Ripped. Obedient. Has Mommy issues.

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Sweetness. A great body. Willingness to give me complete control. Not only willing, but eager.

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“‘Fuck.’ It’s such a blunt, to-the-point, attention-grabbing word in one syllable. Used the right way, it can express anything. Anger, excitement...climax...

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

At one time, I didn’t believe having one “great love of your life” existed in reality. That was before I met my sister’s oldest son @leather-lover-massett. My sister’s his mother and my brother’s his father, so the only thing I’ve heard is accurate to call us is “aunt and nephew twice over.” DNA-wise, we’re closer to being mother and son than regular aunt & nephew. We were strongly, inexplicably drawn to each other from the minute we met, and over the course of one evening, we felt like we’d known each other our whole lives. Before anyone gets up in arms over the taboo of it: Genetic sexual attraction is real and happens 50% of the time in cases like mine. I didn’t believe in it either, until that indescribably intense love - and yes: lust - hit me like a ton of bricks. We’re two consenting adults, we’re hurting absolutely no one, and that’s the end of that discussion far as I’m concerned.

16. When and where were you happiest?

Cliche’ as it might sound: when I was an undergrad at Ohio State. I’d wanted to go there since I was 11 or 12 and watching the Buckeyes basketball games with my dad. I was a two-hour bus ride away from my parents, away from home for the first time; everything was so full of possibility. No one’s college experience is perfect. I would of course face challenges and pitfalls, but there were plenty of good times too. I haven’t been as completely, enthusiastically optimistic since.

17. Which talent would you most like to have?

It would have been cool to be able to learn an instrument. I suffered through piano and clarinet lessons before I started middle school, and I was terrible. It sounded like throwing metal trash cans down a flight of stairs, and I feel sorry for our neighbors back then. Tried some of my bandmates’ guitars when I was older, and I wasn’t much better. I can hear all the rhythms, timing, and such when I sing, but instruments: something just never computed.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

It’s all in the past now, but I would’ve changed the amount of courage I needed to first contact my birth family. I needed a lot more of it, which is why it took me so long. A lot of years were lost, and it would’ve been so different if we’d met earlier. I never got to meet my birth parents, and in a weird way I have some deep-down gratitude towards them, for putting me up for adoption. But then I start to feel guilty about that when I think of Norma and Caleb left behind with them, and the hell they were put through.

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I don’t think about it much, and sometimes I lose sight of it, but yeah it’s achieving the rank of Special Agent. The exams and PT for it are quite challenging, and it can be very taxing mentally, physically, emotionally, every which way. Only 5-10% of field agents make it every year. Sadly, that percentage of women is even smaller. I’ve love to see that number start climbing within my lifetime.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I haven’t thought about that one! If I got to come back as a whole new person and got to do it all over again, I’d want to come back as the rock star who makes it big this time. Recording contracts, sold-out arenas, the whole nine yards. No law enforcement career this time, in this next life.

21. Where would you most like to live?

I’d love to have a private island off the coast of Oregon and Washington State, and have a big fancy cabin built there for Dylan and myself. Since I spent time with my bio family, I’ve also fallen in love with this beautiful area of the country. Our island would have a causeway bridge and of course gorgeous views of the ocean and forests. Definitely with enough space and privacy for all of us in the family.

22. What is your most treasured possession?

My riverfront house I ended up buying, in northern Portland. Not that I don’t miss downtown Bethesda and all the urban excitement of D.C., sometimes. It was a big change, but I felt like I was home. On a deep level I’d never felt before. I can’t see myself living anywhere else, even after not this long a time. Now, if I could only get the city to sign off on the building permit for a hot tub on the back deck, that’d be great.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

That’s a tough one to talk about. I’d say it’s the feeling of being alone after a traumatic loss. A sudden loss of someone or something who’d meant the world to you, and you couldn’t have guessed it was coming. People can say they sympathize and understand how you feel, but they don’t. Not really. Not unless they’ve lived through the same kind of loss.  

24. What is your favorite occupation?

Ask me that a few years ago, and I would’ve said “Mine is! Working for the FBI, of course!” But lately I have low-key thought about what other career I would’ve pursued given the desire and the circumstances. The first one I came up with: I would’ve gotten my Krav Maga instructor certification and opened my own KM studio. It would be in White Pine Bay, because god knows women there especially need to learn self-defense. Then maybe I’d open another one in Portland, and after that: who knows? Another, very fleeting career thought: If I’d really pursued it seriously when I was younger, I might have ended up singing in a band that made it big, or *laughs* otherwise ended up in show business. But it wasn’t the path meant for me, in reality. 

25. What is your most marked characteristic?

I’ve always been told I pull the energy right to me once I walk into a room. Most people already there, their attention gets drawn to me even when they’re doing something else. I suppose that’s defined as magnetism. Others’ attention gets me energized and even more confident, though I’ve also been accused of arrogance. It’s something I’ve honed for years: the need to mentally and emotionally grab people and shut down any flickers of doubts they may have about me, my leadership, and my convictions that my course of action is the right one.

26. What do you most value in your friends?

I don’t have many female friends, except my sister and a few from the Academy or college that I keep in touch with on Facebook. It’s not that easy to make friends with most other women because we end up having nothing in common, and of course I’m guarded about my family. If I did have them, I’d value a lack of jealousy or toxic emotional fuckery that’s so prevalent among adult women who never matured past high school age. When it comes to finding a beautiful fuck-buddy, I don’t have nearly as much trouble ;)

27. Who are your favorite writers?

Anyone who has written a good autobiography or memoir. I love following other people’s journeys and experiences through this crazy life with all its highs and lows. They can be famous or not; it doesn’t matter to me. Everyone’s life is a story to tell. Some of my favorites: I’ll read anything by Haven Kimmel, most of Stacy Layne Wilson’s books, and similar. I’m currently reading “The Woman Who Smashed Codes” by Jason Fagone.

28. Who is your hero of fiction?

Most of what I read is non-fiction, like I said. I think anyone who writes down their life story and all its intricacies is pretty heroic, putting it out there for the world to read. If I had to pick a fictional hero, it would have to be Molly Bolt from Rita Mae Brown’s Rubyfruit Jungle. You don’t have to be gay or even female to love this character. It also brought me a long way in realizing how much my own bisexuality is to be owned and celebrated.

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Gloria Steinem. I consider myself a Steinem-era feminist; I was raised that way and it definitely comes from my mother. I see all the ways feminism has changed over the decades, and it’s funny how some of those beliefs are downright conservative when you compare them to some of what’s considered “feminism” today.

30. Who are your heroes in real life?

I don’t truly have a lot of hero-worship for much of anyone. It goes back to my being a supposed egomaniac, which I still think is an exaggeration. Like a lot of kids, especially cops’ kids, my dad was one of my heroes when I was that young. Until I grew up some, then learned he (and any law enforcement officers) isn’t all-powerful against the evil in this world.  

31. What are your favorite names?

Those of us three Calhoun siblings: Emma, Caleb, and Norma. They sound rhythmic together. Even though I take serious issue with what my brother did to my sister, we are still bound by blood and that’ll never change. Caleb and I have a rocky relationship, and I would slap handcuffs on him in a second if he ever tried to hurt her again. But he’s still my brother too. Part of me will always believe there should’ve been three of us growing up together. I still wonder how different our lives would’ve turned out if we had.

32. What is it that you most dislike?

People who exploit and harm those who can’t defend themselves. They don’t even have to technically break the law, although most I’ve encountered do just that, over and over. There are too damn many of them in the world.

33. What is your greatest regret?

Shit, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to talk about this. *deep breath* My greatest regret is losing someone I loved deeply and highly valued as a colleague. He was married and a father of two, and I had no business falling for him. Of course that does nothing to stop it, ever. Neither of us could control falling in love. It’s taken me years to accept and believe David’s murder wasn’t my fault, that there was absolutely nothing I could’ve done to stop it. I’m just now coming to accept that what happened to him after he died isn’t my fault either.

34. How would you like to die?

In the words of John Lennon, “I’ll probably get popped off by some loony.” Haha! I kid! Ideally, I’d like to die naturally as an old lady, surrounded by loved ones. I don’t think the odds are much in my favor for that, but we can only wait and see...

35. What is your motto?

If you’re physically and mentally able to do something to make things better and punish the deserving, then you no longer have the luxury of shirking that responsibility.

Also:

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right--for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” --Eleanor Roosevelt

#character development #ic #rp meme #muse is contemplative #8: both muse and mun